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Shopping, Cocktail in Hand

CITY SIGHTLINES Saks Fifth Avenue is dressed for the season.Credit
Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

WITH a little planning, you can coordinate your holiday shopping with chocolate tastings, a free eyebrow shaping and maybe an ornament for your dog. Oh, anything’s possible in New York during a recession. Stores are putting on a variety of events to keep customers in the mood. Sample sales are unusually plentiful. And merchants and restaurants in SoHo have organized a shopping night to raise money for the homeless.

At Bergdorf Goodman on Saturday, Pamela Fiori, the editor of Town & Country, will sign copies of her book, “Stolen Moments: The Photographs of Ronny Jaques.” The photographs of Mr. Jaques, an overlooked talent, ran in American magazines in the 1940s and ’50s. Ms. Fiori will be on the seventh floor from 2 to 4 p.m. How convenient! From 1 to 5 p.m. on the same floor, Le Maison du Chocolat will hold a tasting.

On six, Bergdorf will spice up a winter coat selection from Burberry and Yeohlee, among others, with hot apple cider and chocolate. That’s Saturday, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, from 2 to 6 p.m. On both Saturdays, a jazz trio will play in the men’s store from 1 to 5 p.m., with refreshments. Two ornament creators will be in the store: Natalie Sarabella, Sunday, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, from 1 to 5 p.m., on the seventh floor; and Ida Tjeknavorian-Schlossberg on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14, from 1 to 5 p.m. And on both Sundays, Vosges Chocolates will offer a tasting.

For hard-to-please male shoppers, two cuff-link designers will be at the men’s store: Lois Sasson, Dec. 9 from noon to 4 p.m., and Robin Rotenier, Dec. 11 from noon to 4 p.m.

Speaking of guy stuff, Lord & Taylor will have a special shopping night Dec. 11, starting at 5 p.m., with Details and 1050 ESPN. Big spenders ($1,000 and up) will receive an iPod Touch. In advance of Macy’s one-day sale on Saturday, the store will hold a Nascar event Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to promote a line of Godinger crystal and barware. The first 100 guests to make a $150 purchase will get to meet the driver.

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Grooming always matters. On Dec. 4, at the BeneFit counter at Bloomingdale’s, your eyebrows can receive attention. Shaping is complimentary to first-timers. The cast from “13, a New Musical” will perform Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. at Y.E.S. And on Dec. 5, Trish McEvoy will hold two makeup classes. Get yourself a new face for the holidays! For reservations: (212) 705-2202. In Bloomingdale’s in SoHo on Dec. 4, there will be a daylong Mad for Marc by Marc Jacobs event, for resort and holiday clothes. Shoppers who spend $300 will receive a limited-edition T-shirt. Spend $500 or more and you get a Marc tote bag, too.

If you’re not too dazzled by the snowflake light show at Saks, the store has fortifications in addition to events. Godiva will have a tasting Dec. 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. Cookie maker Yoko Moku will offer treats Dec. 6, from 1 to 5 p.m., and so will Tea Forte. That’s on eight. On Dec. 11, cartoonists from The New Yorker will be on hand to sketch your portrait, from 1 to 4 p.m. They can be found on the main and eighth floors.

Among the hip fall sample sales are Proenza Schouler, at 120 Walker Street, on Dec. 11 and 12; and Alexander Wang, at 386 Broadway. The Wang sale starts on Dec. 11, at 3 p.m., and runs over the next two days. Showroom Seven (263 11th Avenue), which reps labels like Orla Kiely and Erickson Beamon, will have a 10-day sale starting Dec. 8. Charlotte Ronson’s fall sale (1071 Avenue of the Americas) will take place Dec. 10 through 12.

The first SoHo Holiday Stroll takes place Dec. 11, from 6 to 11 p.m., with shopping discounts and complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres from participating merchants and restaurants like Balthazar, Bliss and Tommy Hilfiger. Strollers must purchase a $20 bracelet, which will qualify them for the discounts and goodies. For details: (212) 274-0550.